Infectious respiratory disease in cats Flashcards
(21 cards)
Infectious can be…
Bacterial, viral, fungal, protozoal or parasitic.
Clinical signs
Ocular and nasal discharge (could be as little as some wetness around the nose).
Tongue ulceration with calicivirus (but also licking certain cleaning products could present in the same way).
Cat flu pathogens
Feline herpesvirus, feline calicivirus, Chlamydia felis, Bordetella bronchiseptica, Mycoplasma felis .
Feline Herpesvirus - what is it? signs? other notes
Enveloped DNA virus (FHV-1).
Clinical signs - flu signs, damage to nasal bones (become chronic snufflers i.e. always have a bit of nasal discharge), ocular ulcers, herpetic dermatitis.
Have through life - most get as kittens from mum. Shedding may occur without disease. Stress-related recrudescence.
If a cat has lots of suspicious lesions on face and feet and it doesn’t respond to steroid think herpes.
Chronic rhinitis (“snuffles”) - what is it? tx?
Can be a sequel to ‘cat flu’.
Destruction of turbinates predisposes the animal to more infections.
Difficult to manage.
Rule out non-viral causes.
Antibiotic therapy? - may need a prolonged course.
Aerosol therapy.
Decongestants.
Antivirals? L-lysine, interferon omega, famciclovir <- studies on efficacy lacking.
FCGS - what is it? cause? signs? tx?
= Feline chronic gingivitis stomatitis.
(FIV can present in the same way).
Causation not established - but know it changes the way the body reactions to normal flora.
Back of the throat looks very fleshy and they resist an oral exam.
Frustrating to treat. Dental treatment, antibacterials, full mouth extraction, corticosteroids (immunosuppressive), interferon (immunomodulatory).
Can be confused with…
Nasopharyngeal polys or retropharyngeal stenosis. But these can’t be solved with anti-virals or antibiotics
FCV - what is it? signs? spread?
= Feline calicivirus.
Flu signs, tongue ulcers, synovitis (floppy kittens).
Due to synovitis can get shifting lameness (that normally resolves) after vaccination.
Fast-evolving and hardy RNA virus.
Shed by >80% of cats in multi-cat environments.
Can be shed without disease.
Can get spontaneous outbreaks of severe disease even in adult healthy vaccinated cats.
50% mortality.
Spread by fomites.
Can get virulent systemic FCV - pad problems, severe jaundice, vasculitis (tips of ears sloughing).
Chlamydia (Chlamydophila) felis - what is it? signs? tx?
Intracellular bacterium-like organism.
Close contact for transmission.
Can initially appear unilateral.
Chemosis - massive changes in the eye/conjunctiva (this is the top differential for chlamydia vs FB/trauma).
Antibiotic treatment - doxycycline. Treat in all contacts.
Why can doxycycline cause oesophageal stricture? How to prevent
Made with a specific salt type which creates an acidic pH, so if it gets stuck and creates a pool in the oesophagus it can cause an ulcer and stricture. Therefore, always give with food, or give food after to prevent anything getting stuck. Also give water - lots of small drops.
Cat flu causes
Normally herpes.
If predominantly FHV or Chlamydia - close contact or poor hygiene.
FCV - fomite spread.
Stress control is important for all.
Supportive treatment
Eye drops - anti-herpes.
Oral anti-virals - but need to be specific for the individual virus.
Currently nothing specific for FCV - just interferon which is immunomodulatory, but is very expensive.
If cat’s can’t smell they won’t eat - so make the food smelly, and clean their nose to get rid of gunk.
Potassium supplementation - they feel super weak and don’t eat due to K deficiency.
Diagnosis - when, options
When it will change management - individual vs population.
Oral or ocular swabs - need viral transport medium.
Virus isolation - FCV/FHV.
PCR - FHV/Chlamydia (qPCR is the best).
Conjunctival swabs for Herpes - false negatives are very common.
Symptomatic treatment
NSAIDs - can cause problems if not eating and drinking.
Viscotears - for corneal ulcers / if they’ve stopped producing tears.
Nebuliser to moisturise air and airways.
Mirtazapine - Appetite stimulant.
Specific treatment
L-lysine is specific for herpes virus - great in theory but poor support from literature and competes with arginine so need extra supplementation - so don’t prioritise this in cats.
Eye drops, e.g. fusidic acid - but might not treat the bugs that you’re trying to kill.
Virbagen = interferon.
Famciclovir - used to treat herpes.
Nutritional support
Nasogastric tube or oesophageal tube.
Prevention
Hygiene, barriers (e.g. spit shields), ventilation
Core vaccines
Feline Panleukopaenia Virus (Feline Parvovirus, FPV, Feline Infectious Enteritis), Feline Herpes Virus, Feline Calicivirus
Control
Cat-cat transmission, stress, disinfectants (FHV is very labile but FCV is more resistant - Quaternary ammonium compounds aren’t effective)
Non-core vaccines
Chlamydia / Chlamydophila felis, Bordetella bronchiseptica, Feline Leukaemia Virus, Rabies Virus
Which cat flu pathogen can cause LRT disease?
FCV
